Andulo — The chief of staff of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), general Francisco Furtado worked on Thursday in Andulo district, 130 kilometres to the north of Kuito city (central Bié province), with the objective of outlining mechanisms with the aim of curbing illegal diamond mining in the villages of Nhârea and Andulo.

Speaking to ANGOP, the general officer stressed that, apart from learning about illegal diamond mining by foreigners, the visit also served to assess the disarmament process of citizens under the illegal possession of firearms in the region.

He also said that the growth of illegal diamond mining and the massive entry of foreigners in the districts of Andulo and Nharea, mainly by citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Congo Brazzaville, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone and of other nationalities in search of easy profit, is one of the main worries of this organ of the State.

General Furtado also added that the massive presence of these individuals in those zones caused, in the past, various actions of vandalism, such as attacks with firearms, theft and other ill deeds along the main roads between diamond areas and villages.

On the other hand, Francisco Furtado assured that over 150 firearms were collected in those districts.

The general officer urged chieftains, religios entities and the civil society to adhere peacefully to the process of handing over firearms, which is still underway countrywide.